Work bench system with adjustable dimensions and configurations



y 1960 P. w. R. JOHNSON ETAL 2,943,897

WORK BENCH SYSTEM WITH ADJUSTABLE DIMENSIONS AND CONFIGURATIONS Filed Nov. 14, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 PEYER W.R :TQHNSON k uu m HQYDEN By Nxccmns I GEoRETrE MARCEL FUHRG ATTQRNEY July 5, 1960 p w, JOHNSON ETAL 2,943,897

WORK BENCH SYSTEM WITH ADJUSTABLE DIMENSIONS AND CONFIGURATIONS Filed Nov. 14, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l/Vl/E/V 7' 0R 3 PETER M!- R. Tall/I30)! WILL/AM H14 70 lV/COLA S J'- 650365775 MA RCSL Fl/l/RO WORK BENCH SYSTEM 'WIT H ADJUSTABLE DIIVLENSIONS AND CONFIGURATIGN Peter W. R. Johnson, Wilton, William Hayden, Bridgeport, Nicolas J. Georgette, Stratford, and Marcel Fuhro, Easton, Conn., assignors to Products for Industry, Stamford, Comm, a sole proprietorship Filed Nov. 14, 1956, Ser. No. 622,049

Claims. (Cl. 311-35 This invention relates to a bench system and more particularly to a plurality of bench components which may be assembled into bench equipment of various configurations in order to satisfy a great variety of needs for factories, shops, laboratories etc.

The present invention constitutes an improvement over co-pending application, U.S. Serial No. 598,801 of D. Bruce Johnston et al., filed on July 19, 1956, in which the problem confronting industry of an e'tficient, flexible work bench system has been set forth. It should be n'oted,however, that the present invention is directed to a simplified, selective bench system in which a minimum of constructional details are utilized without sacrificing the sturdiness and efliciency of the bench system.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a plurality of bench components which may be adjusted individually as to height, width and length and which may form a bench system arranged in line, back to back, and right angle, and that may be easily and rapidly converted from one arrangement to another depending upon the particular need.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an integrated bench system which has built-in services, for example electric power, water and gas, all of these services being accessible from the front of each bench component.

A further object of the present invention is a novel locking device having a cam action and which is adapted for rapid, effective and simple locking and unlocking of work bench tops and, if desired, leg struts.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a reinforced Work bench top which is designed for supporting heavy loads. A number of difierent size tops may be employed with the present bench system dependent upon the particular needs. It should be noted that the present bench system may be utilized with a belt or package conveyor adjacent to the front or rear of the bench system as desired.

The flexibility of the present bench system permits factories to change their production line set-up to satisfy a great variety of requirements in a amount of time. 7 V I The above and other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will be fully understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

Fig. 1. is a partial perspective view of the bench system in accordance with invention forming an integrated unit showing one section in extended position and provided with an interchangeable Work bench top,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation view of the telescoping back legs and part of the leg strut,

Fig. 3 is a partial elevation and partial sectional view disclosing a preferred form of securing the work bench top to the front legs,

Fig. 3a is a side elevation view of the double cam element,

2,943,897 Patented July 5, 1960 Fig. 4 is one form of an interchangeable work bench top for use in our bench system,

Fig. 5 is an alternative form thereof,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the channel and slidable leg strut therein.

Referring more particularly to the drawings the present flexible bench system comprises a plurality of vertically adjustable legs 10 which will be described in detail hereinafter. Each leg 10 is provided with a planar supporting element 12 which preferably is of a rectangular form having a mutiplicity of apertures 14 therein. The supporting element 12 extends transversely to the leg 10. Each leg 10 has a freely rotatable base 16 which herein is shown in a generally triangular form. The base 16 may rest on the floor or be secured thereto by means of screws (not shown). Adapted to rest on planar supporting elements 12 are work bench tops 18 which are available in a number of sizes. A back panel 20 is provided with a service duct referred to generally by the numeral 22 and located on the-front of the back panel thereby affording easy access to the various electrical and plumbing services located in the duct. On the lower part of back panel 20 isa channel 23 which extends in the direction of length of said back panel. The channel 23 may be secured to the back panel 20, for example, by means of welding or it may be formed as an integral part of the back panel Attached to each leg 10 is a leg strut 24. which is preferably channel-shaped. The leg strut 24 may be constructed of telescoping sections, as shown,for may be of various fixed lengths. One end of each leg strut 24 is slidably secured in channel 23.

It should be noted that leg strut 24 may be moved at will in the channel 23 until the desired position of the front leg relative to the desired Work bench top is found. Fixed to said one end of the leg strut 24 is a transverse slide'plate 25 which slides in the channel 23. If desired, a suitable locking member (not shown) may be employed adjacent to the slide plate in order to securely maintain the leg strut in its selected position. Each rear leg 1G is housed in back panel as clearly seen in Fig. 2 and similar to the construction of the front legs constitutes telescoping portions 26 and 28 and a locking ring 39. In order to elevate or lower leg 10, section 26 is screwed into or out of section 28, and locking ring 30 on section 26 is screwed up tight against section 28v be noted that rear legs 10 are fixed against lateral movement but are able to be adjusted vertically. However, the present simplified construction permits the front legs 10 to be moved forward and backwards, and laterally at will in order to accommodate various sizes and/ or numbers of work bench tops 18. Each top 18 has its rear edge inserted under lip 36 of the back panel 20 and the front part afiixed to planar supporting element 12. Work bench tops 18 are shown in two preferred forms in Figs. 4 and 5. Fig. 5 shows elongated reinforcing elements 38 which are herein shown as channel-shaped but may take other forms, and which are adapted to be located around the. periphery of the bench top which occupies space 39 (not shown); However, it is to be understood that it is within the scope of the present invention to provide the reinforcing elements in a rectangular shape on the underside of the bench top or in a crossed position. The reinforcing elements also may be of various fixed lengths. The aforesaid construction permits the use of heavy work loads on the bench top. Locatedin each of the adjacent ends of reinforcing elements 38 are screwthreaded holes 41. The elements 38 are adapted to rest on planar supporting element 12 and the apertures 14 therein aligned with screw threaded holes 41. Thereafter,

a: locking means suchas ill-ustrated in Fig. 3 and Fig. 3a may be inserted, through apertures. 14and holes 41, to

removably fix the work bench top 18 to the front legs 10. Alternatively, Fig. 4 illustrates a work bench top 1,8:of a relatively thick, preferably wood composition having threaded apertures 40, located ,at thecornersof the workbench top for afiixingi the sameto. the planar. supporting element. Securing or. locking means as hereinafter described may beQutilized to secure thework bench top 18; to, planar support, element 12 .as is'clearlyseen in' Fig. 3; A pair-of standards 31 are afiixed to. the top of back. panel? 20. and; carry a lighting fixture 33 and .an

article-receiving tray 35; I

.Referring now,- more; particularly ,to Figs. 3. and 3a in.

which are. shown a lockingmeansimaccordancezwith thepresent invention.- The; locking means comprises a screw bolt150, having a .transversepimSZ-whichpivotallysecums atdouble cam 54=to;thehol t:5.tl.;- Double cam- 54 isrpro-v vid edtwith anelongated"handlefSti; Fig';.'3a illustrates f asideyiew o-f-oneof-theicams 54-1 The SClBfvWbOltfii" isadaptedto beinsertedthrcugh one of thesapertures14' a top for the bench, the back assembly has means for supporting the panels, and the leg struts are extendable for 7 increasing the spacing of the front legs from the back assembly whereby a panel can-be supported with a longer dimension of the panel extending either longitudinally or transversely of the bench.

3. A bench comprising, a plurality of front legs, a back panel having two rear legs secured thereto, a plurality of leg struts, -an elongated guide and retaining vmemberion said back' panel and extending in the direction of the length: thereof, andeach'of said' leg struts including-an? element that. fits. said guide and retaining member and that is adjustablelengthwise along the guide and retaining member, the elements of th'e leg struts connecting the front legs with selectediportionsgofsaid guide and retaining members, and aplanar'suppo'rting "element on g each of the frontlegs extending transversely of thelongitudinal axis of the leg for supporting removable work panels.

of the planar supporting element 12; from; they underside thereofiaudvthreaded into:jthreaded.-aperture 4030f the work bench top, 18. Gbviously', ifia-ework bench top'of the-type shown in Fig; 5 isyuse'd then;the 'screwsboltitl;

may. be threaded .intoholeAFof a;r.einforcing-element 3 8.

g It is apparent,therefore, thatiscre'w bolt;50-is:adapted for. rotation in threadedapertures. 40, and 41- of the work; benches, for exampleas; shown: in Figs. .4 and..5: until the. top. 53 of double. :cam 54. abuts .agai'nst 'thejbottorn of planar supportingelement 12.: Thereafter, the-.rhandlea 56:of::the' double, cam; 5.4:1i's pivotally moved in the direc:

Whilewe have shown: and described the preferred em bodiment of our invention, it willberunderstood' that the. latterqmaybe embodied.- otherwise thanas herein'sp'ecifi cally illustrated;or described "andithatimthei illustrated embodiment :certain; changes: in the :details of construction andinithe arrangement ofparts; may be made without departing fromthe. underlyingzidea ror principle; of. the

invention within-the scope of the appendedclaims.

Whatweclaimisr l. A benchcomprising a back' assemblyhavingtwo rear legs and longitudinally-extending members connected to said legs and holdingsaidlegsin spaced relation to one another, a plurality of front legs, leg struts connecting. the front'legs .with the back assembly. of the bench, one" ofzthe longitudinally-extending members of the back assembly. being of channel crossesection', an element connected to therearward end of each leg strut and movable alongfithelength of theechannel member: as a guide for shifting the front legs longitudinally with respect to the back assembly to spacethe. front legs at anydesired spacing from one anotherandindependently of thespacing of'the back legs, and-meansconnected .withthe front legs forsupporting panels of various. sizes and of lengths substantially shorter than the; back assembly and for \vhicl-r-the spacing ofzthe front legs is adjusted;

2'. The bench described in: claim land in which: the

bench is adapted to supportsa-plurality'ofpanels forming,

' ..4 .A bench: comprising a plurality of frontJlegs, a

and that ;'is' adjustable lengthwise along the guide and rethe front legs. with. selected'portions ofsaid guide and tioned in said guide and retaining member;

i 'l he benchdescribed in claim 3 and in which ther are ;a plurality of reinforcing elements for .the work panels,- means connecting the reinforcing elementsto said";

' planar supportingelements, at least two removable-work q,

panels abutting one another. and supported from one common planar supportingelement, and each of theQleg; I strutshaving lockingv means for locking the-*legstrutin any adjusted position along the guide and retaining mem-; ber, said locking means comprising a pair of clamping elements and ascrew that clamps the elements together, 7

References Citedin thefile of thisip'atent' UNITED STATES PATENTS. 7

913,204 Dickson Feb; 23,1909

965,471 Lehman July 26', 1910: 1,044,889 Hyde NOV. 19,1912 1,201,185 Holter Oct; 10,1916 1,300,533 Wessinger Apr. 15, 1919: 1,356,062 Corsline Oct. 19, 1920 1,417,565 Ralph -g May; 30,1922: 1,473,817 Corsline Nov: 13,1923" 1,520,517 Thomason Dec. 23, 1924' r 2,163,049 Merrill June 20, 1939 2,192,170 Adams Mar, 5,.1940: I 2,345,650 -Attwood A r. 4, 2,343,043 Webb a 'May: 2; 1944 2,654,487 Degener 065.6, 1953." 2,731,316 'COhe'n Jan;'Il-7',"1956 2,739,776 Terando Mar. 27,1956" Raines Mar; 21, 1905 retaining, member, the guide'and retainingmember-being.

a: channel. extending substantially the entire length of-thebaolcpjanel, andeach :leg strut being providedwith a plate. f p at one end thereof and extending substantially p pfi ff; dicularlyto the legstrut, said. plate being slidably'posig;

backpanel-having two rear legs secured thereto, a-plurality of leg struts, anelongated guide and retaining member-:on'saidback-panel and extending in the direction": 7 of the length thereof, and eachof said leg struts includ inganzelernent that fitssaid' guide and retaining member. 

